Cenote Caliskutz (Pavo de Monte)- The best-kept secret in Homun

Cenote Caliskutz is one of three hidden cenotes near Homun a small village in Yucatan, Mexico, renowned for being close to the Anillo de los Cenotes.

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While the area is very popular for its major concentration of amazing cenotes and therefore, always very busy with local and international tourists, Cenote Caliskutz ( also called Pavo de monte) is still lesser known and therefore more tranquil.

We just went to explore this cenote, together with the nearby Cenote Mani Chan and Cleotilda, which we suggest you should visit as well, while you are there.

In this detailed post, we will tell you all about it, how to get there, and what you will find.

Things to know about Cenote Caliskutz

Owned by the same people that own the water park, San Isidro, Cenote Caliskutz it’s definitely our favorite for its natural beauty.

Cenote Caliskutz has an easy entrance through some wooden stairs that take you down to the natural lake with crystal clear water and a platform from where you can admire the spectacular rock formation before jumping into the sacred natural lake.

The cenote has some deep areas where you can also jump from three mt platforms, for the bravest.

How to get to Cenote Caliskutz

The best way to explore Yucatan is without a doubt by car because you have the freedom to travel around at your own pace with no specific schedule other than the one you decide.

And this especially applies to Cenote Caliskutz which is located a bit off the beaten path in an area where public buses won’t go and local taxis will be more hesitant to drive you.

➣ When renting a car in Mexico we recommend Discover Cars because on their website you can compare different companies and their prices and you can choose between their car insurance or the ones offered by the car rental directly, or both.

When you choose your rental car we recommend including full insurance with 0 deductible so you will drive with no stress.  On Discover Cars, you can purchase that too. Make sure you read the fine print.

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How to get to Cenote Caliskutz by Car 

To get to Cenote Caliskutz you will need to follow the direction on Google Maps to find the cenote. From Merida, you will need to follow the directions to Homun. Between Cuzama and Homun, right before getting to Homun, you will need to turn right.

The opposite is coming from Valladolid or Cancun.

Here below we’ll show you the Google Maps Screenshot for your convenience. As you can see, Cenote Caliskutz is located near Cenote Mani Chan and Cleotilda which you should also visit, right after.

Cenote Caliskutz Map

How to get to Cenote Cenote Caliskutz by Local Bus 

From Mérida the bus leaves (medium van) from the colonial Centro (calle 52 x 65 y 67). Mini-vans from Mérida to Homún start running from 6 in the morning, and the last departure is at 5:30 pm.

From Homún to Mérida, the first departure is at 5:30 in the morning and the last between 5 and 6 in the afternoon. The price is 34 pesos per person.

The schedules of the buses are approximate as they leave when they are full. It is a very busy route, so it is easy for the bus to fill up quickly.

The ride is approximately 1 hour.

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How to get to Cenote Cenote Caliskutz by taxi

The cenotes in the Homun areas are usually reachable by local taxis from Homun town so you don’t actually need a car to visit them because you will find a lot of moto-taxis that will take you there.

These moto-taxis are not actual motorbikes but they are basically made of bikes with an attached 4-seating cart. It’s all part of the experience.

They usually take you to cenotes that are closer to Homun town unless you have your own request for specific cenotes in which case you may need to negotiate the rate. Rates vary depending on the distance.

So if you want to get to this cenote you will need to ask one of these taxi drivers how much they charge.

The distance is 6.5 km (4 miles).

PRO TIP – if you decide to get there by taxi, it would be much more convenient to get to Cenote Mani-Chan first. From there you can purchase access to three cenotes including Cenote Caliskutz (200 MXN per person) and they will take you there on their own moto-taxi, included in the price.

Things to do in the Cenote Caliskutz

Cenote Caliskutz

• Swim and chill – You can swim in the crystal clear waters, chill and enjoy the spectacular surroundings, the cenote walls made of stalactites and stalagmites and the impressive roots of the huge almond trees
• Snorkel – You can indeed explore the underwater world with some snorkeling. (bring your own snorkel)
• Take amazing photos – Cenote Caliskutz is a photogenic Cenote and although the lighting is not the best, you can still get some interesting shots, like we did.

Practical information 

Cenote Caliskutz

• Showers
• Toilets
• A restaurant is available on the Mani Chan property (a few km away)
• Life Jackets
• Palapas and sitting areas

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Cenote Caliskutz Entrance fee – 

70 MXN ( 4 USD approx) per person

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Cenote Caliskutz Opening Hours 

Open every day from 8 to 17

How to visit Cenote Caliskutz and respect the environment 

We would like the cenote (and nature in general) to stay as beautiful as it is and it’s not that difficult. Here are some simple rules to follow in order to do as little damage as possible to the environment. 

Because it is a fact that we do damage it just by existing, so let’s try to have as little of an impact as possible

• Always take a shower before entering in a cenote (available at the entrance) 
• Don’t hang on to the stalactites or stalagmites or any roots 
• Don’t be loud
• Don’t trash
• Don’t use any kinds of cream spray or protectors on your skin as it would contaminate the environment (even the so-called – eco friendly) 
• Just don’t do any foolishness that can damage the environment 

If we appreciate the environment we will learn to respect it. 

What to bring to Cenote Caliskutz

• Swimsuit
• Change of clothes
• Towel to dry off
• Mosquito repellent to wear after you come out of the water as there may be mosquitos around, especially in the Summer or after it rained.
• You can walk on your flip flop although we always like to wear closed shoes when we are in the wilderness, mainly to avoid bug bites. But it’s totally up to you

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What we like about Cenote Caliskutz

💦 The extremely crystal clear blue water 

🗿 The incredible rock formations and fossils

👀 The fact that it’s in a cave

🤐 The silence, because we were the only guests

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What we didn’t like about Cenote Caliskutz

Can’t think about anything at the moment. They were both magical and very well-kept.

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Tips to photograph the cenote Cenote Caliskutz

The artificial lights that illuminate the cenote make it quite difficult to take photos. Always try to have the lights behind you or cover them so they do not enter the scene.

With this little advice, we are sure that you can take some good photos of the crystal clear water. A polarizing filter can help you with reflections

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Category – nature lovers

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/ 5

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What to visit near Cenote Caliskutz

There are so many cenotes in the area that you can stay for a week and never get enough. The closest ones are the Cenote Mani Chan and Cleotilda at a 5-minute distance which we recommend visiting as well.

Also, you will find the Mayan ruins of Acanceh in the homonymous town and, at only one hour’s drive, the spectacular ruins of Mayapan.

Where to stay near Cenote Caliskutz

The closest town to the cenotes where to stay is Homun. This small village has grown a lot over the years and you can now find many different kinds of stays from the simplest local hotel to more sophisticated luxury places. Here below we will share our hotel recommendations.

🏨 Hameki

Great laid-back luxury glamping just outside Homun downtown. Guests also love their pool and deck chairs and the on-site restaurant offering also vegan dishes.

Check availability and rates on Booking.com

🏨 Hotel Santa Maria

Simple local hotel for a budget stay. The rooms are not fancy but spacious and clean. They have a pool and an indoor restaurant with local dishes.

Check availability and rates on Booking.com

🏨 Reset Atemporal

Interesting luxury stay just outside Homun downtown. This new hotel offer luxurious cabañas equipped with thoughtful details

Check availability and rates on Booking.com